Container collection apparatus with piston-actuated crusher

Claim 1

Apparatus for collecting and storing empty aluminum containers and for issuing predetermined return deposits for collected containers comprising: preselection means for exposing a crushed or non-crushed container offered by a customer to an electromagnetic field for identifying whether said containers are substantially aluminum without establishing direct electrical contact with said container; said preselection means including a container access area configured to accommodate both crushed or non-crushed containers for exposure to said field; means for accepting only a container identified by said preselection means as being substantially aluminum, independent of the configuration of said container, including a horizontal shelf for receiving a said container directly from a customer and supporting said container in said container access area during operation of said preselection means; coin-dispensing means responsive to said preselection means for dispensing coins in return for containers having a substantially aluminum composition; means responsive to said accepting means for crushing said accepted containers, said crushing means including an anvil and a horizontally movable piston cooperating with said anvil for crushing said container between said anvil and said piston, said shelf being fixed to said piston for allowing said container to fall by gravity into the path of said piston and said anvil when said piston is activated; and means for storing crushed containers received from said crushing means.